“Our troops didn't die in Yorktown, didn't take Normandy beach, didn't rebuild Europe and secure the postwar peace that you are now destroying, Mr. President, for you to live as a Manchurian candidate in our White House," Avenatti said during the speech, the text of which he posted on Twitter.

The lawyer spoke in front of a rally protesting Trump's controversial remarks during a joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday in Helsinki.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Our troops didn't die in Yorktown, didn't take Normandy beach, didn't rebuild Europe and secure the postwar peace that you are now destroying, Mr. President, for you to live as a Manchurian candidate in our White House.”

Trump has faced bipartisan backlash for downplaying Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and siding with Putin's denial of the meddling over the assessment of the U.S. intelligence community.

Avenatti, a frequent Trump critic, told protesters outside the White House on Tuesday that the U.S. is "under attack."

"A foreign power — Russia — waged an operation to sow discord among our citizenry and interfere with our electoral system," Avenatti said. "It worked to openly put Donald Trump in the White House. And yesterday, one of the most disgraceful days in our history, Trump rewarded Russia by siding with it over his own people, especially the intelligence professionals who sacrifice so much to keep us safe."

"Today, we come to this park across from the White House to re-declare American independence."

Avenatti has been promoting the protest, which some dubbed #OccupyLafayettePark, since Monday. It is the second night of protests since Trump landed back in the U.S. after returning from his trip to Europe.

"Every time I watch him work I think, 'This is what it must have been like to see the Sistine Chapel being painted,' " Daniels said in an interview. "But instead of paint, Michael uses the tears of his enemies."